# Implementing convolution using SymPy

I started using SymPy recently, and I implemented convolution using it.

def convolve(f,g,x,lower_limit,upper_limit):
y=Symbol('y')
h = g.subs(x,x-y)
return integrate(f*h,(y,lower_limit,upper_limit))


It seems to work for a few tests I've done.

Would like to know what you think of it, any improvements are appreciated.

Your code shouldn't work: You are calculating: $$\int_a^b f(t) \, g(t - \tau) \; d\tau$$ but convolution is defined as: $$f(t) \, * \, g(t) \equiv \int_{-\infty}^{\infty} f(\tau) \, g(t - \tau) \; d\tau$$ so the default limits of integration should be $$\-\infty\$$ to $$\\infty\$$. More importantly you should use the proper argument for f (the integration variable). Finally, naming the integration variable y feels unusual.

from sympy import oo, Symbol, integrate
def convolve(f, g, t, lower_limit=-oo, upper_limit=oo):
tau = Symbol('__very_unlikely_name__', real=True)
return integrate(f.subs(t, tau) * g.subs(t, t - tau),
(tau, lower_limit, upper_limit))


## Problematic Assumptions

You implicitly assume that x is not Symbol('y'). If it is, then g.subs(x, x-y) will return a different, constant function (g'(x) = g(0)). You could check for this case and handle it specially, or just use a more uncommon symbol to reduce the risk.

## Formatting

You have inconsistent spacing in your code. PEP8 recommends a space after every comma and on either side of binary operators (like =, -, and *):

def convolve(f, g, x, lower_limit, upper_limit):
y = Symbol('y')
h = g.subs(x, x - y)
return integrate(f * h, (y, lower_limit, upper_limit))